Patient enrolment begins in a scientific trial to identify the first effective treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease

In a major international effort to evaluate potential treatments for Ebola disease due to Bundibugyo virus (BVD), the PARTNERS clinical trial has opened enrolment today for patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.   The PARTNERS (Platform Adaptive Randomised Trial for New and Repurposed Filovirus TreatmentS) trial will assess whether two antiviral therapies – a monoclonal antibody (MBP134) and remdesivir – can improve survival among people diagnosed with BVD. It will also evaluate whether combining the two antivirals provides additional benefits. The trial, sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO), has been coordinated by the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium, and the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, in collaboration with international research, clinical and humanitarian partners, and supported by Africa CDC. Since the start of the outbreak, over 1400 people have been diagnosed with BVD, nearly 210 people have recovered and nearly 440 people have died of the disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While effective treatments have been developed for Ebola virus disease, none are currently approved for Bundibugyo virus disease, and no treatment has been shown to work across all virus types that cause Ebola diseases. These treatments were selected for the trial by the WHO Technical Advisory Group after a thorough review of scientific evidence, including preclinical research and safety data, and evidence from previous outbreak responses. People enrolled in the clinical trial will be provided with close support and follow-up for at least 28 days after enrolment. “Even without approved therapeutics, people are recovering from this disease, but of course, we could save many more lives with safe and effective therapeutics in our toolkit," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “The PARTNERS trial, established with national authorities and scientific partners in record time, offers real hope that we can deliver concrete results for – and with – the communities at the heart of the outbreak.” The trial has been established as a platform trial, which allows for additional treatments to be added as they become available following assessment by the WHO Technical Advisory Group. "We urgently need treatments that can help people affected by Bundibugyo virus disease. One of the key lessons from recent outbreaks is that research needs to happen alongside the response, not after it,” said Professor Amanda Rojek, PARTNERS Trial Operations Lead and Associate Professor of Health Emergencies, at the Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford.